Boehringer Ingelheim commences phase III trial of breast cancer drug
20 September 2010 00:00 in Pharmaceutical Company Product News
Boehringer Ingelheim has begun a phase III clinical trial of its leading investigational compound afatinib among sufferers of metastatic breast cancer.
The new LUX-Breast 1 trial is the first pivotal study to evaluate afatinib - which is also being investigated as a lung cancer treatment - as an oral therapy for breast cancer patients.
It is thought that afatinib, which is intended to be marketed under the brand name Tomtovok, can inhibit both the epidermal growth factor receptor HER1 and the human epidermal receptor HER2, thereby preventing the development and spread of tumours.
Professor Klaus Dugi, corporate senior vice-president of medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, said the trial has been initiated based on positive data from proof-of-concept studies.
He added: "We are delighted to be able to initiate this important trial together with a range of leading investigators to assess the value of afatinib for women with advanced breast cancer."
Last week, the company was granted European regulatory clearance to expand the labelling of its HIV drug Viramune, making it accessible to patients with an undetectable viral load regardless of their CD4 count.
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